Sierra Leone

by James Knight, Katrina Manson

This new, thoroughly updated third edition of Bradt's Sierra Leone remains the only English-language guide dedicated to this unique West African destination, one of only three countries where the über-elusive pygmy hippo can be found and where coastal mountains and sheltered beaches are the stuff of daydreams and postcards. With Bradt's Sierra Leone you can explore the infamous diamond mines and rainforest-covered mountains; go in search of pygmy hippos or relax on the country's beaches and islands. Offering significantly more coverage than any other guide, it is an ideal companion for tourists, volunteers and international workers alike, and also covers newly declared eco-tourist sites as well as the trans-boundary 'peace park' of Gola Forest National Park, shared with neighbouring Liberia.This new edition also covers Freetown's new beach music festival, as well as details of everything from where to visit rescued chimpanzees to touring the traditional wooden-board homes of the Krio people, descendants of repatriated slaves from the Americas and Europe.Sierra Leone continues to be one of the best beach destinations in West Africa, and also one of the region's best trekking destinations, given the varied topography and the presence of Mount Bintumani, West Africa's highest peak. The country has seen a heartening recovery since emerging from civil war a decade ago and the Bradt guide is the first to take stock of the country's post-Ebola travel situation. Sierra Leone is proudly back on the tourism map for the adventurous, beach-loving, jungle-exploring, mountain-scaling and curious of heart traveller.

794 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 24, 2012

Reviews

[Anscar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've come to see Bradt guides as perhaps the very best travel guides on offer, especially on local detail.

As an exmaple, on my trip earlier this month, I was trying to find a way to visit the historical site of Bunce Island - all the tour companies quoted me figures of $500 or $550 for a boat there, which was extortionate. But looking in the guide, the book suggested an alternative option, providing the names and phone numbers of the caretakers of the island and suggesting to contact them - phoning them they offered me a round trip for around $40, plus tips (then I just had to work out how to get to the port, which was a $25 taxi each way). So it ended up working out very well.

Plus, as this example shows, despite being from 2017 I found this book still remarkably up to date.